Acors hopeful about State Fair
Posted on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 11:27 am
The decision of the State Fair of Virginia to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and liquidate its assets hopefully does not mean the end of the State Fair in Caroline County, says Wayne Acors, chairman of the county’s Board of Supervisors.
“The State Fair of Virginia is a Virginia tradition that had a perfect home in Caroline County,” said Acors in a statement issued by county officials on Friday of last week. “We were proud to host the fair and it meant a great deal to the community. We are disappointed that the parties were unable to work out a solution.”
He expressed hope that the bankruptcy does not mean the permanent end of the State Fair in Caroline.
“While we don’t know what is in store for the State Fair of Virginia Inc., we remain hopeful that the State Fair will operate again in Caroline County soon,” said Acors. “The Meadow Event Park is a user-friendly, safe and beautiful venue for the fair. We believe that other potential investors will find it a very appealing place to operate a State Fair.”
Any use of the land, other than for State Fair purposes, may be difficult as current zoning of the property is restricted, and public utility agreements in place severely limit the provision of water and sewer service to the property, he noted.
“The Board of Supervisors rezoned the property specifically for this purpose,” said Acors. “The intent all along has been to maintain the rural atmosphere while making beneficial use of the property. The board believes a fairgrounds is the ideal use of the property.”
The State Fair venue, The Meadow Event Park, has been a revenue source for Caroline. The park generated approximately $221,000 in revenue annually for Caroline, including real estate taxes that the county will continue to receive.
“The county’s vision for the Meadow is that it remains a venue for entertainment, education and family-oriented recreational events,” said Gary Wilson, director of the county’s department of tourism and economic development.
